ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) admitted that parental hesitation and unreturned consent forms are delaying its efforts to vaccinate over 185,000 learners across Western Visayas under the revived School-Based Immunization (SBI) program.
Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, Medical Officer III and National Immunization Program (NIP) coordinator at DOH Region 6, said the “Bakuna Eskwela” campaign is facing one of its toughest obstacles not inside schools but at home.
“We have several difficulties in terms of retrieving consent forms. Since our targets are minors, we still need signed approval from parents and caregivers,” Atienza explained. “It cannot be avoided that some still hesitate to allow their children to be vaccinated.”
He said fears over side effects fuel most of the reluctance.
“Some parents are afraid of adverse events following immunization, but we always assure them that our vaccines are safe, effective, and free. These are all approved by our FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and even by the World Health Organization,” Atienza stressed.
Side effects, he said, are “minor and normal reactions” of the body as it produces antibodies.
“These antibodies are what protect us once we are exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases,” Atienza stressed.
The SBI program, implemented with the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units, targets Grade 1 pupils, Grade 4 female students, and Grade 7 learners across 2,877 schools.
Iloilo Province has the largest share with more than 79,000 children, followed by Antique (26,500), Capiz (25,200), and Aklan (nearly 23,000). Guimaras, Roxas City, Iloilo City, and Passi City are also covered.
Atienza said last year’s rollout also struggled due to typhoons and class suspensions.
“We implemented the campaign in September to October, but typhoons were coming in and out. The frequent suspensions of classes affected the program, and our coverage dropped, not just here but also in other regions that were hit by flooding or storms,” he recalled.
This year, DOH-6 is pressing schools to be more proactive.
“Sometimes schools prioritize their own activities, but we suggest that after those events, they coordinate with health centers for immunization. Collaboration between health and education is key because we have the same stakeholders — the children. We want them to have better lives by giving them recommended vaccines to protect them,” Atienza said.
He also pointed out the economic benefit of immunization.
“Through this campaign, we can reduce student absences since they are protected. At the same time, we minimize the cost of burden on parents, who otherwise would have to spend on hospitalization or medicines if their children get sick,” he noted.
Atienza further urged private schools to take part.
“We encourage private schools to send letters to our district or provincial health offices so their student learners can also receive the recommended vaccines,” he said.
With measles already circulating in Western Visayas, Atienza warned against complacency.
“Vaccination is one of the simplest, most effective, and cost-free ways to protect our children. We continue to encourage parents to support this campaign so that no child is left vulnerable,” he emphasized./PN
